Annual Report

Transcription

1 Annual Report Introduction During the year the fraternity and sorority community at Western Kentucky University celebrated 50 years on the Hill! During the past year the community has done a great job of raising the bar for the next 50. Our organizations found great success in academics, philanthropy, service, leadership, and community. Membership numbers have continued to be the largest ever, with IFC and Panhellenic formal recruitments seeing a record numbers of bids in WKU history. The All-Fraternity and All-Sorority GPAs continue to be above the All-Male and All-Female average. The community has donated many hours and dollars to philanthropic and service initiatives. The community welcomed a new Greek Affairs Coordinator, Alexandria Alex Kennedy in August Recruitment and Membership The Greek community hosted two Meet the Greeks events this year: one in the fall during MASTER Plan and one the first week back from classes in January. Our Interfraternity and Panhellenic Council s main method of increasing and welcoming new members is through Formal Recruitment, which takes place in August. Panhellenic Formal Recruitment in 2014 matched 446 women (89% of those whom registered). Quota was 51 new members, an increase of 8 women over the fall 2013 quota of 43. The National Panhellenic Conference approved the automatic reset of Chapter Total at the conclusion of Formal Recruitment, resulting in Chapter Total increasing to 147, compared to 125 for fall All chapters reached quota and total during the formal recruitment process. Our Panhellenic sorority membership in the fall 2014 semester was at 1298 women. During the spring semester, seven Panhellenic chapters conducted COB. Over 240 men signed bids in 2014 fall recruitment, the largest number in WKU history. This is up from the 227 who signed during the fall of Spring recruitment saw over 110 men sign bids, up from 82 bids in was installed in January with 55 men. The National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities maintained their membership. Eight of the Divine Nine are represented on campus. The NPHC continues to work with the NPHC Intake Window and learning the understanding of the process. Philanthropy Report With 59,870 service hours and $213, money donated to various causes in , the fraternity and sorority community remained committed to service and philanthropy. Each organization spends time and money supporting the causes that are near and dear to them. The community continues to be a major supporter of the Bowling Green 10K road race and the American Red Cross through the Greek Week Blood Drive. The Greek Week Blood Drive is one of the largest collegiate blood drives in the country, this year collecting 1235 pints of blood, allowing the Greek community to help save over 3000 lives. Philanthropy Day of Greek Week found the Greek community collecting

2 Scholarship Greek Week 14,325 canned goods for three local Bowling Green food pantries. The Greek community continues to be a large supporter of Up til Dawn, Relay for Life, Dance Big Red, and the Student United Way. Our Greek community is a community of scholars. The overall fraternity and sorority averages continue to exceed the All Men s and Women s averages. The All-Sorority average was during fall 2014 and 3.22 during spring 2015 as compared to the All-Women s average of 2.94 during fall 2014 and 3.06 during spring The All-Fraternity average was during fall 2014 and 2.83 during spring 2015 as compared to the All-Men s average of 2.61 during Fall 2014 and 2.7 during Spring Greek Week is one of the largest student run program in the Greek Affairs Office. The Greek Committee consisted of 29 students from 18 organizations. Events included Spring Sing, Banner, Blood Drive, Greek Feud, Faculty Appreciation, Events Day, Tug, Philanthropy Day and Awards Convocation. This year, the committee also planned a Greek Barbeque that took place the Saturday before Greek Week and supported the WKU Football Red/White Scrimmage Game. Greek Week continues to be a success. Over 2500 people attended Spring Sing in Diddle Arena. Over 1200 pints of blood were donated to the American Red Cross during the Blood Drive. 356 people signed up and joined the Bone Marrow Registry and over 200 people joined the Organ Donor Registry. during Greek Week. Over 1000 people attended Events Day at the Colonnade. Tug saw over 1800 attend to watch the day s action. Awards convocation was attended by 1000 people. Greek Week ended with the annual Awards Convocation which included the following awards: Greek Hall of Fame: The following were inducted into the WKU Greek Hall of Fame this year Seth Bland Olivia Charles Hannah Dodd Haley Doose Mallory Fulkerson Elise Gibson Natalie Gilliam Gabbi Hagan Catherine Havel Nicole Hirschler Kelsey Kaetzel Gavin Knies Natalie Koppel Matthew Lawson Omega Phi Alpha Cameron Levis Leah Lewis Jamie McDonough Andrew Nalley Wheeler Painter Ashley Presnell Brandi Ratterman Matt Robbins Maggie Shelton Madison Shirley Chandler Smith Mckenzie Willard Amy Wolterman Alpha Xi Delta Omega Phi Alpha Order of Omega: The following were inducted into the WKU chapter of Order of Omega this year Daniel Banks Lauren Bell Seth Bland Leah Brown Matthew Bunnell Olivia Charles Steven Dossey Alpha Xi Delta Ashley Fleener Ian Greer Rachel Hoffman Megan Holl Colton Hounshell Kelley King Evan Mack Sigma Alpha

3 Melanie Martin Kendall Norwood Brooke Powell Frankie Poynter Julia Price Hannah Reid Parish Richard Gabrielle Ringenberg Alpha Kappa Alpha Omega Phi Alpha Taylor Ruby Shelby Schaefer Maggie Shelton Jessica Sievert Olivia Sievert Lauren Sirls Amanda Trail-Cruz Jordan Webb Greek Week Awards: Banner Contest: Alpha Tau Omega Events Day: Sigma Nu 3. Kappa Alpha Order Blood Drive: Alpha Gamma Rho Sigma Nu Greek Feud: Kappa Sigma 3. TUG: Omega Phi Alpha Alpha Gamma Rho FarmHouse 4. Pi Kappa Alpha CANstruct for a Cause: Omega Phi Alpha Sigma Nu 3. Philanthropy Day Cans donated: Omega Phi Alpha Sigma Nu 3. Alpha Gamma Rho Spring Sing: Alpha Xi Delta FarmHouse

4 Greek Week Overall: Alpha Gamma Rho 3. Chapter Achievement Awards: Alumni Development: Kappa Sigma Outstanding Intramural Performance: Outstanding New Member Program: Philanthropic Service Award: Campus Involvement and Leadership: Greek Involvement: Chapter Development: Scholastic Achievement: Outstanding New Member: Emily Pride, Jonathan Darnell, Most Improved Chapter: Outstanding Advisor Award: Katie Beard Stinnett, David Serafini, Charley Pride Spirit Award: Nicole Hirschler, Matt Lawson, Greek Woman of the Year: Ellie Jolly, Grace McCullough, Greek Man of the Year: David Miller, Karen Towell Sisterhood Award: Reed Morgan Award:

5 Programming Highlights New Member Symposium & Olympics: On Saturday, September 20 over 500 new members of the WKU Greek community came together for a morning of learning and getting to know one another. Corey Ciocchetti, a speaker from CAMPUSPEAK spoke to our newest members about the power of being our authentic and vulnerable selves. At the conclusion of his talk, the new members went outside and competed in some friendly competition via field games. Greek Leadership Symposium: Saturday, February 21 nearly 600 Greek students participated in the Greek Leadership Symposium. This year, Order of Omega and Greek Affairs cosponsored the event. Students came bright and early, checked in and then heard a little from President Ransdell. From there, they attended three breakaway sessions of their choosing on various topics such as: leadership, risk management, personal development, transferrable skills, etc. Finally they came back together to listen to Mike Dilbeck, a CAMPUSPEAK speaker talk about Bystander Intervention. Leadership and Volunteerism Programming: Many of our Greek students participate in Leadership and Volunteerism programming throughout the year. Many sorority women participated in the Alternative Spring Break with a focus on service in Tuscaloosa, AL. Maggie Shelton, a sorority woman on campus facilitated a Dynamic Leadership Institute focused on our sorority women. Our two departments continue to collaborate with L&V sponsoring the Emerging Leader track for students at the Greek Leadership Symposium and Greek Affairs facilitating and presenting at the High School Leadership Conference, The Leadership Conference, and for various DLI in a Day events. Academic Recognition Program: On Thursday, April 9 nearly 400 Greek students attended the annual Greek Academic Banquet at Knicely Center. This program recognized the scholastic success of our organizations and individuals. EBI Satisfaction Survey: During the fall semester, the Greek community participated in the EBI Benchworks survey that assessed satisfaction in various areas of Greek programming. 654 students participated, representing roughly 30% of the Greek population. The results showed various areas for potential improvement as well as areas in which the Greek Affairs and Student Activities office is excelling. A full report of results has been included with this report. Panhellenic Pride Week: The Panhellenic Council celebrated Panhellenic Pride Week September 22-26, During that week they hosted a viewing of Half the Sky a documentary about women s education, Tina VanSteenbergen of Phired Up! who spoke about Social Excellence, a Bake Sale, fundraiser dinners, etc. The money raised went to Circle of Sisterhood, the Panhellenic philanthropy of choice. National Pan-Hellenic Council Homecoming Step Show: On Saturday, November 8 the NPHC hosted the Annual Step Show at Diddle Arena. Four organizations from WKU competed and three exhibition acts performed. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was awarded first place. Panhellenic Academy: Panhellenic President Olivia Charles, Recruitment Director Mallory Fulkerson, Student Activities Graduate Assistant Allie Sharp, and Greek Affairs Coordinator Alex Kennedy all attended the first-ever Panhellenic Academy hosted in Indianapolis, IN January While there Alex

6 and Allie received advisor trainings from the NIC and NPC and Olivia and Mallory attended sessions geared toward their officer positions. Panhellenic chose to send representatives to this conference to help them prepare for their positions before the semester began. Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values Conference: In the past, IFC has attended the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference but decided they would like to try a new conference in officers of IFC and 2 officers of NPHC attended AFLV with Greek Affairs Coordinator Alex and Graduate Assistant Allie. They visited Indianapolis, IN January 29 through February 1. They enjoyed the new environment and are looking forward to attending again next year. Next year, they look forward to bringing IFC delegates from individual chapters as well. Walk a Mile: On March 31 the Interfraternity Council hosted the annual Walk a Mile fundraiser to raise money and awareness about sexual violence and the local rape and crisis center, Hope Harbor. Over 75 men walked up and down the Hill in heels, all the while passing out fliers with facts about sexual violence. This event rose over $1200 for Hope Harbor. Southeastern Panhellenic Conference: Grace McCullough () served as a Conference Coordinator for SEPC in Alex and Grace traveled down to Atlanta, GA a few days early for training. 24 women of Panhellenic attended the conference, March 26-29; with officers from Panhellenic as well as chapter delegates. Panhellenic Sorority Extension: At the conclusion of sorority formal recruitment in 2014, it became evident that extension (the process of bringing a new sorority to campus) was necessary. The Panhellenic and Greek Affairs collected data and information to present to the Panhellenic who ultimately decided to approve extension visits from national organizations. Five organizations submitted applications to present and the Committee invited three of them to campus: Alpha Sigma Tau, Gamma Phi Beta, and Delta Zeta. The committee recommended Delta Zeta to the Panhellenic community after campus visits. Unanimously, Panhellenic approved the recommendation. Delta Zeta will be joining the Panhellenic community at Western Kentucky in the fall of Issues/Concerns for Inter-Council Relations: In April, after the national story regarding a racist chant said by Sigma Alpha Epsilon members at University of Oklahoma, WKU President Gary Ransdell brought together chapter and council leaders to discuss his expectations for the community. There is a heightened sense of distrust between our historically black and historically white organizations. This needs to be worked on. Alcohol-Free Housing: Our fraternity houses are dry as dictated by the university. This year we have had issues with individual fraternities hosting events and parties at their houses with alcohol. National Pan-Hellenic Council Step-Show: The 2014 Step Show was an incredibly stressful activity for those involved and necessitated that the Student Activities office cover the deficit of event costs to money brought in. The NPHC is working to correct some of these problems now.